Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

26 reviews

maddiemadelineclaire's review

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5.0

This book was everything and more. I wish I could read this again for the first time. 
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oceanwriter's review

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

As expected from Fiona Davis, The Spectacular has a stunning NYC backdrop. I didn’t even read the synopsis when I picked up this book. I saw Radio City Music Hall on the cover and didn’t care to know more. Plus, having read The Magnolia Palace, I figured it was a safe bet. 
 
More or less on a whim, teenaged Marion auditions to be one of the Radio City Rockettes, figuring the audition would be as far as she’d go. Being accepted causes a riff with her father, but as time goes on, his disapproval becomes the least of her problems. After an explosion during a performance, Marion gets involved in the investigation. 
 
I didn’t love this as much as I thought I would. Of course I loved the setting and all, I just found myself disconnected from the characters and mystery. Even so, Fiona Davis’ writing style made me want to continue. I’m going to hang onto this and visit it another time. It’s been a while since I’ve visited New York. I can see myself getting a taste of Broadway and wanting to visit it. 
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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 The Spectacular is a piece of historical fiction set in New York City in 1957. I felt Marion’s passion for dance and loved seeing her pursue it despite the objections of her conservative, domineering father and her boyfriend. I enjoyed the glitz and glamour of the Rockettes and of Radio City, as well as learning about the Big Apple Bomber, based on a real man who planted pipe bombs in prominent city buildings for a period of sixteen years before being caught as a result of criminal profiling. What didn’t work was the key role Marion played in the investigation and in bringing the bomber to justice. It felt too artificial and contrived for my taste. 
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michfitz's review

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adventurous emotional informative mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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isbn_reading's review

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adventurous emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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victoriarosalesvt's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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historianvik's review

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mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Interesting plot but overall nothing too special. Some characters were fuller and better written than others. The way the mc spoke seemed too modern which threw me off.  I liked the book and the ending but its not one i would buy for myself or reread.
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delz's review

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adventurous informative mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The Spectacular takes on a lot. Marion is 19 years old and she loves to dance, unfortunately her widower father, Simon is old fashioned in the extreme and he has chosen her future husband,  Nathaniel and what the rest of her life will look like. Marion has a mind of her own though so she auditions for the Rockettes and gets in. Simon is furious deciding to throw Marion out, but she thrives because of course the stage is where she’s meant to be. There’s more though because there was a serial bomber who planted bombs over a 16 year period, bombing Radio City Music Hall. Marion meets Peter, a doctor doing his internship at a psychiatric hospital and that leads to them sleuthing to find the mystery bomber, because Peter can profile him. There  was also a discrepancy over Marion’s mother’s death and some forays into genetics like what is inherited, because Peter is a doctor. This story was good, but felt weighed down with too much content. 
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growintogardens's review

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emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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theoceanrose's review

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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